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From hiding their mansions on Google Maps to building $500,000 panic rooms, rich people are sparing no expense to keep their lives private and secure

February 12, 2020, 1:12 pm

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Rich people have always been private, but their desire for privacy has increased as they seek more security in a technological age.
But in an age of constant connection, some of the ultrarich are reeling in the flashiness in the name of safety.
Experts in high-end security say wealthy people are living under the radar at home and while traveling.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Perhaps nothing conjures up an image of wealth like Nicki Minaj in her $400,000 pink Lamborghini or Mark Cuban stepping out of his $40 million private jet.

But in an age of constant connection, some of the ultrarich are reeling in the flashiness in the name of safety.

"Privacy and safety are inextricably linked. There was a time when privacy concerns were primarily about financial loss, such as bank wire or credit-card fraud," Gary Howlin, the senior vice president at Gavin de Becker & Associates, which provides executive protection for wealthy people including clients in the Supreme Court and the CIA, told Business Insider.

"Now, particularly with personal information readily available via internet and social-media sources, people are using what was once private information to learn where clients live — or information about their activities in order to seek personal encounters with them," Howlin said.

As a result, the wealthy are proceeding with caution when it comes to grand displays of wealth.

Take for example Kim Kardashian West. The Queen of Selfies has always been known for flaunting her diamonds on Instagram and on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," but after being held at gunpoint and robbed of more than $10 million in jewelry in 2016, she became more discreet about her wealth by toning down her social-media photos, no longer wearing a lot of jewelry in public, and getting 24-hour security.

Kim Kardashian West

But such a harrowing incident isn't a prerequisite for being discreet.

CEOs and business moguls, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson, have always been somewhat private, at least to the general public, but even celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Melissa McCarthy are refraining from putting their wealth on display.

The wealthy are living under the radar at home

"There was a time when people really flaunted their wealth — now they don't," David Forbes, the head of private office at the estate agent Savills, told the reporter Kate Allen of the Financial Times. "People's priorities over the years have shifted. Now right at the top of the list, it's security."

He added that while the wealthy still spent money on boats and planes, they didn't want to attract the kind of attention open displays of wealth bring; they're increasingly opting for what Allen called "under the radar" living, which takes shape on both small and big scales.

This involves blocking GPS from locating property with a jamming signal, removing homes from the grid, and hiring architects to conceal buildings — whether by designing an underground home or by using a "stealth concealment design" for aboveground properties, Allen reported.

These privacy tactics don't come cheap — one underground mansion was listed for $185 million last year. And those without underground homes are paying up to $500,000 to install luxe panic rooms, which are becoming more popular than ever among the rich as gun violence increases, Business Insider's Katie Warren previously reported.

drake

They're also living in affluent neighborhoods that bar Google's photography vehicles from entering — meaning their residences don't show up on Google Street View.

Paul McCartney's mansion isn't visible on Street View, and neither are the homes of the residents in the celebrity-studded Hidden Hills, California, which include Kardashian West and Kanye West, Lisa Marie Presley, Drake, and Miley Cyrus, according to Vanity Fair.

Try to drop a pin on Sea Island, Georgia, where numerous PGA Tour players live and where the average home costs $3.2 million, and you'll find no results on Street View either.

Forbes told Allen that shell companies and ownership structures enabled anonymity to property buyers, as do gated communities. Homeowners are also spending more on home security systems, he said.

Gavin de Becker & Associates provides a very high level of protection. At residential estates, that involves a dedicated security office, elaborate technological early-warning systems, and strict access control to keep people out, Howlin said.

Mark Zuckerberg

"It is common for a successful, well-known executive to spend a million dollars a year — or much more — for a comprehensive security and privacy program," Howlin said.

This year, Facebook approved a $10 million annual security allowance for Zuckerberg and his family, an increase of nearly $3 million from the previous year, Business Insider previously reported.

The wealthy are also seeking out privacy and security when they travel

But such security isn't limited to the home — the ultrarich are also taking steps to travel more discreetly.

"If you're driving a convertible Bentley right now in the South of France, you're asking for trouble — you'll be followed back to your villa by a couple of scooters," Forbes told Allen.

Perhaps that's partly why so many billionaires avoid driving luxury cars. Zuckerberg has been seen in an Acura TSX, a Volkswagen hatchback, and a Honda Fit, each valued at or under $30,000. The Walmart heiress Alice Walton, the world's richest woman, drives a 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch, which retails for about $40,000, according to CNBC.

But that's just on the road — traveling across the country or internationally brings other challenges.

For this, Gavin de Becker & Associates relies heavily on logistical planning and execution — clients want hotel rooms prechecked under an alias and privately accessible.

"Our clients will never be found standing at the lobby desk to check in, and even walking through the public spaces is optional," Howlin said. The firm also owns and operates the Private Suite at LAX, where rich people pay upward of $4,500 for solitude when traveling — that includes drop-offs on the tarmac, bodyguard protection, and "private" security lines.

"It's a safe haven offering the best privacy, security, and amenities money can buy," wrote Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback, who toured the luxury terminal.

But that's when they're flying commercially.

the private suite lax

Any jet — even a private one — that's registered has a tail number and can be found, according to XOJET, an on-demand private-jet operator. Billionaire moguls, CEOs, and celebrities are shifting to on-demand charter jets for more privacy.

"If you're a celebrity and you don't want the public knowing your every move, flying charter ... allows anonymity as the jets are randomly assigned based on the leg," James Henderson, the president of commercial operations at XOJET, told Business Insider. "Meaning you may never get the same jet twice — allowing for complete privacy."

Jamie Foxx, Fergie, and Kardashian West have all flown on-demand private jets via JetSmarter, according to Travel + Leisure.

Chartering a private jet doesn't come cheap — a trip from New York to Los Angeles via XOJET is $25,000 one way. But for many wealthy people, privacy is priceless.

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This chart shows the exact age when you're most likely to get married

February 12, 2020, 1:13 pm

≫ Next: This chart shows the exact age when you're most likely to get divorced

≪ Previous: From hiding their mansions on Google Maps to building $500,000 panic rooms, rich people are sparing no expense to keep their lives private and secure

The average marriage age for Americans has increased over time, according to US Census Bureau data.
In 1962, 90% of 30-year-olds had been married at least once. By 2019, only 51% of 30-year-olds had been married.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Valentine's Day is coming up, and couples are celebrating their love for each other. Many of those couples, however, may not be overly eager to tie the knot: Americans aren't getting married at young ages as often as they used to.

We looked at data from the US Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, which investigates various economic and social aspects of people's lives. In particular, we used the individual-level Public Use Microdata Sample assembled by the Minnesota Population Center.

Using this data, we were able to estimate the number of people who identified as being married, separated, divorced, or widowed at each year of age. We estimated the percentage of people who had been married at least once in 1962, 1980, 2000, and 2019.

In 1962, half of 21-year-olds and 90% of 30-year-olds had been married at least once. In 2019, only 8.0% of 21-year-olds and 51.2% of 30-year-olds had been married.

Here's the likelihood that a person has been married at least once at some point in their life for every year of age over the past few decades:

marriage probability by age 2020 higher res

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This chart shows the exact age when you're most likely to get divorced

February 12, 2020, 1:13 pm

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marriage story netflix

The US Census Bureau tracks patterns in marital status by age among Americans, including divorce statistics.
In recent years, older Americans are more likely to have been divorced, separated, or in a second or later marriage than in previous decades.
Younger Americans are more likely to be never married or in a first marriage.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A lot of people get married. And if things work out, they'll stay happily married.

But things don't always work out.

Using individual-level Census data from the Minnesota Population Center's Integrated Public Microdata Sample project, we took a closer look at different marital outcomes by each year of age in 2018, the latest year for which data is available.

Based on responses to questions about marital status and number of marriages, we found the proportion of the population at each age that had never married, was in a first marriage, was widowed, or was in a situation in which a first marriage had ended. That last group combines people who responded they were divorced, separated from their spouse, or in a second, third, or later marriage.

In 2018, about 9% of 30-year-olds had already ended one marriage. The proportion of people who were divorced, separated, or married multiple times maxed out at age 62 when about 41.6% of respondents fell into this category. That was just shy of the 42.3% of 62-year-olds who were in their first marriage:

marital status in 2018

We also compared the 2018 proportions of people who were divorced, separated, or married multiple times to those proportions from earlier decades. The 1960 and 1980 Census long-form survey, the predecessor of the American Community Survey, also included questions about marital status and number of marriages.

The results were interesting: In 1960 and 1980, a higher proportion of 20-somethings had a marriage end than in 2018. More people were divorced, separated, or in second or third marriages by their late 20s or early 30s in 1960 and 1980 than in 2018.

On the other hand, older Americans have been more likely to fall in this category in recent years: In 2018, respondents in their mid-40s and older were far more likely to be divorced, separated, or in a later marriage than people of an equivalent age in earlier decades:

divorced separated or later marriage across time

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17 of the most captivating professional photos shortlisted in the 2020 Sony World Photography Awards

February 12, 2020, 1:20 pm

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Sony World Photography Awards_PeixiaXie_China_Professional_Landscape_2020 - NO CROPPING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

The Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world's most prestigious photo competitions, has announced the shortlisted and finalist entries of its 2020 Professional competition.
Open to professional photographers over the age of 18, the competition ran from June 2019 to January 2020. More than 135,000 images were submitted.
The competition recognizes photo series consisting of 5 to 10 images that were taken or commissioned in 2019. Photographers could submit one photo series to each of the 10 categories, which included "Environment" (a new category for 2020) and "Creative" (for digitally altered images).
From a highway that zigzags like a child's doodle through mountains in China to a bushfire raging through southeast Australia, the shortlisted and finalist images capture some of 2019's most beautiful and dire moments.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Sony World Photography Awards is widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious photography competitions — and today, it announced the finalist and shortlisted images of its 13th annual Professional competition, whittled down from a staggering 135,000 images.

Between its four 2020 competitions — Professional, for photo series; Open, for standalone images; Youth, for standalone images taken by photographers ages 12-19; and Student, for photography students — Sony received a record 345,000 submissions from 203 countries and territories.

The 2020 Professional competition was open to professional photographers over the age of 18 from around the world, ran from June 2019 through January 2020, and accepted bodies of work consisting of 5 to 10 images across 10 categories: Creative, Discovery, Documentary, Environment, Landscape, Natural World & Wildlife, Portraiture, Sport, and Still Life. Only unpublished images taken in 2019 or images commissioned in 2019 were eligible.

Submissions were evaluated on their technical excellence and for providing a "fresh perspective on contemporary subjects." In total, 60 shortlisted series and 30 finalist series were selected across categories.

From a whimsical portrait of teenagers lounging in a messy bedroom to a bushfire raging through southeast Australia, the shortlisted and finalist images capture 2019 in its lightest and darkest moments.

The Awards will announce ten category winners and a Photographer of Year from among the Professional category finalists on April 16 at the Sony World Photography Awards in London. The Photographer of the Year will receive $25,000, among other prizes.

Here are 17 standout images from the finalist and shortlisted photo series:

*Photographer image descriptions have been lightly edited for clarity.

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"Rumi and Scarlet, 2019" by Joseph Ford

Category: Creative shortlist

Series name: Invisible Jumpers

About the series: Ford worked with a knitter to match his subjects with their surroundings and create an optical illusion.

Photographer image description: "I've photographed a range of ages for this project, and the idea of recreating a messy teenager's bedroom appealed to me."

"Judges are looking at reborn dolls during the Valencia doll show" by Didier Bizet

Category award: Documentary shortlist

Series name: Baby Boom

About the series: Bizet documents the creation and adoption of "reborn" dolls. These hyper-realistic dolls that resemble newborns first appeared in the US in the 90s, according to Bizet, and feature "birthmarks, veins, hair, visible skin pores, and even saliva."

Photographer image description: "Hundreds of visitors flock to the Doll Show in Valencia, Spain. This reborn dolls show is the largest in Europe. The jury of reborn artists from all over the world, adored by collectors, meets at the end of the first day of the show. On the left, Bianca Franke carefully notes the many details of the babies such as hair implantation and painting work. April 2019."

"Kosmaj" by Laurin Schmid

Category: Architecture shortlist

Series name: Relics of a Utopia

About the series: In 2019, Schmid visited 50 Spomeniks, or brutalist memorials made of concrete and steel that were erected in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugosalvia beginning in the 1960s. Following the Yugoslav Wars in the 90s, many of the monuments were forgotten, according to Schmid. She photographed the structures under full moonlight.

Photographer image description: "Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the Kosmaj Detachment, Kosmaj Mountain, Serbia. Coordinates: N44°28'04.3", E20°34'18.3". Year Completed: 1971. Designer: Vojin Stojić and Gradimir Medaković."

"0,531Bq" by Florian Ruiz

Category award: Landscape finalist

Series name: Project 596 (Chinese nuclear landscape)

About the series: Ruiz used digital techniques to depict the "invisible" radioactivity of Lop Nor, a dried-up salt lake in northwest China's Xinjiang province that was used as a nuclear weapons testing site from 1964-96. "The first Chinese nuclear bomb test, codenamed Project 596, was conducted here in October 1964. As a result of these activities, the region is still heavily contaminated," Ruiz wrote.

Photographer image description: "I wanted to show the invisible danger in this desolate area. Using a Geiger counter I measured the presence of radiation in becquerels (Bq). The title of each image is the level of soil contamination I recorded, expressed in Bq. Using digital techniques, I superimposed image fragments, suggesting atoms altering and a general feeling of impermanence. These broken perspectives show the landscape twisting and changing, leading to a sort of vertigo or malaise."

See the full series here.

Source:Sony World Photography Awards

"Drug Cartel Cemetery 10" by Jeoffrey Guillemard

Category award: Architecture shortlist

Series name: Drug Cartel Cemetery

About the series: Guillemard photographed the Jardines del Humaya cemetery in Culiacan, Mexico. Built in 1969 by the city's wealthiest families, the cemetery was later taken over the Cartel de Sinalon, who transformed the site with "mansion-like" tombs. The cartel tombs include air conditioning, satellite TV and some are estimated to be worth millions of dollars, according to Guillemard.

Photographer image description: "Arturo Beltran Leiva's 'El Barbas' grave, from the Cartel de los Beltran Leiva. December 27, 2019. Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico."

"Seeds of Resistance 3" by Pablo Albarenga

Category award: Creative finalist

Series name: Seeds of Resistance

About the series: Albarenga stitched together photographs of indigenous leaders in Brazil and the lands that they protect. Albarenga cited a 2018 report by Global Witness that states that 57 land and environmental defenders were killed in Brazil in 2017, 80% of whom were defending land in the Amazon.

Photographer image description: "Nantu is an indigenous young man from the Achuar Nation of Ecuador who leads a project of solar-powered river boats for collective transport. By installing solar panels on a specially designed boat's roof, he is working to end Achuar's dependence on petrol. Left: On his land, Nantu lies dressed with traditional Achuar clothing. Right: the pristine rainforest from the Achuar territory. Sharamentsa, Pastaza, Ecuador."

"盘龙古道 (Plateau Sky Road)" by Peixia Xie

Category award: Landscape shortlist

Series name:盘龙古道 (Plateau Sky Road)

About the series: Peixia Xie took these aerial photographs between October and November 2019 in the Pamir Plateau of China's Xinjiang province. She captured what locals refer to as the 'Plateau Sky Road,' which opened in July 2019, runs for 22 miles between Tashkurg Tajik Autonomous County and Wacha Township, and is full of hairpin turns.

"Hanoi Fish Man" by Jon Enoch

Category award: Portraiture finalist

Series name: Bikes of Hanoi

About the series: Enoch spent a week on the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam, photographing delivery drivers. These deliverymen have "amazing balance skills" and deliver goods ranging from car parts to eggs to pet fish and ice across the city, sometimes even selling directly from their bikes, Enoch said. Increasingly, vans are being used for commercial deliveries, he noted.

Photographer image description: "A man poses with his scooter in Hanoi with a delivery of pet fish, taken at the start of 2019. The riders have the ability to transport all manner of goods in amazing quantities."

"At the Pink Planet" by Yevhen Samuchenko

Category award: Natural World & Wildlife shortlist

Series name: At the Pink Planet

About the series: Samuchenko used a drone to capture the brilliant colors of Lemurian Lake, a salt lake in Ukraine that turns pink and red in the summer months as a result of microscopic algae that live in the water. "The first time you see the pink salt lakes of the Kherson region in Ukraine it feels as though you are looking at another planet," Samuchenko said. "The view from above is literally out of this world," he added.

"Laura and Katie meet at the prison fence" by Richard Ansett

Category award: Portraiture finalist

Series name: The Women of HMP Foston Hall

About the series: Ansett visit HMP Foston Hall, a closed prison for women over 18 in Derbyshire, England. "The aim of the project was to communicate to the outside world the effects of their incarceration, and how they try to make sense of their lives inside," Ansett said.

Photographer image description: "Relationships are not officially sanctioned, but are inevitable, and grabbed moments of intimacy are all the more precious for being denied."

Untitled by Sarah Sasani

Category: Sport shortlist

Series name: We Are Noticed Too Late

About the series: Sasani, a professional judoka, or practitioner of the martial art judo, captured portraits of her fellow professional female athletes in Iran.

Photographer image description: "I am a professional athlete. I was six when I took up sport. Now I am a national champion. From the very first day up until now — I am 27 — only my father knows that I am a professional judoka. My father has never witnessed my joy when I win or been by my side when I fail because he is not allowed to enter the hall."

"Sologub Oksana Volodymirivna" by Sasha Maslov

Category award: Portraiture finalist

Series name: Ukrainian Railroad Ladies

About the series: Maslov set out to document the "fairy-tale" railroad crossing houses of his native Ukraine as well as the workers who live in them. "During the course of this project, it occurred to me that the crossings are reassuringly permanent — they stand firm in the face of constant change. Unfazed by the passing of trains and time, they are here to stay," he said.

Photographer image description: "322 km crossing of Poltava Kyiv. The Southern Railways."

"Orange and Gray" by Mauro Battistelli

Category award: Landscape shortlist

Series Name: Swamps in Autumn

About the series: Battistelli captured the ethereal beauty of a Texas swamp during a kayaking trip in November 2019. "The Spanish moss looked incredible in the early morning light, and the water and trees formed endless fascinating shapes," he said.

Photographer image description: "Stunning trees, Spanish moss, and orange leaves combined are the essence of autumn in the swamps of Texas."

"SN7" by Nicholas Moir

Category award: Documentary shortlist

Series name: The Burning

About the series: Moir documented the Green Wattle Creek bushfire in southeast Australia, one of many that have caused widespread destruction throughout Australia.

Photographer image description: "A lone fire truck is framed by a wall of flame and a fire tornado during Green Wattle Creek fire, which erupted out of the bush and hit properties in Sydney southwest."

"1" by Chung Ko

Category award: Documentary finalist

Series name: Wounds of Hong Kong

About the series: Chung Ko has documented the wounds of those involved in the ongoing student-led Hong Kong protests that erupted in June 2019 over a proposed extradition bill. "Scars and bruises may fade, but we must remember what caused them. Here are the wounds of the casualties," Chung Ko said.

Photographer image description: "Ah Yan (alias), a first-aid worker hit by a tear gas canister while he was on duty in Causeway Bay on November 2, 2019, suffered from third-degree burns. His fingers were also burnt when he tried to remove the canister between his back and backpack. After a four-hour skin grafting operation, he has to dress the wound everyday, which is quite painful."

"Sand Elephant Memories" by Massimo Gurrieri

Category award: Discovery shortlist

Series name: Tutto Scorre: India's Flow

About the series: Gurrieri documented his travels through India in 2019. "Traveling the roads here is as much an inner as an outer journey," he said." Daily life unfolds, interspersed with religious rituals. Embarking on a walk allows thoughts from the depths to rise to the surface," he said.

Photographer image description: "Memories, dust, religion, and pollution. Kumbh Mela, 2019."

"This Is Normal" by Jenny Evans

Category award: Environment shortlist

Series name: An Ecosystem in Crisis

About the series: Evans documented life in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin. The region is experiencing what Evan likens to "a water crisis usually experienced in Third World countries." The water, she notes, has "become undrinkable and unsuitable for swimming or bathing."

Photographer image description: "Talita Cohen, 4, washes in a bath filled with tap water from the Darling River in Louth, Australia. For Talita, the brown foul-smelling water is nothing out of the ordinary for her; it is her reality. It is the only water available for her and her family. Local communities in the Darling River area are facing drought and clean water shortages as debate grow over the alleged mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin."

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Having a Delta credit card gets you a free checked bag every time you fly the airline — here's how to use the perk

February 12, 2020, 1:43 pm

≫ Next: Jeff Bezos has reportedly broken California's record for the most expensive home sale of all time with his purchase of a $165 million Beverly Hills mansion (AMZN)

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Delta check-in airport

If you have a Delta credit card, you and as many as eight travel companions will get free checked bags. All you have to do is book your flight and include your Delta frequent flyer number on the reservation.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after you spend $2,000 in the first three months, plus another 10,000 bonus miles after your first account anniversary.
When you open the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and spend $3,000 in the first three months, you'll get 80,000 miles, and another 20,000 miles after your first account anniversary.
The premium card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, is offering 80,000 miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months, plus another 20,000 miles after your first cardmember anniversary.
These welcome bonuses are only available until April 1, 2020.
See Business Insider's list of the best airline credit cards »

One of the perks that comes with Delta's three main credit cards — the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Delta SkyMiles Platinum, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards — is a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation.

For travelers who tend to check bags, the savings can add up quickly. Delta charges $30 each way for a checked bag on a domestic flight. For a family of four taking a long vacation, just having the credit card can help save $240 — $30 each bag, each way would mean a total of $240 for the whole family.

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It's important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back.

How to get a free checked bag with Delta credit cards

When you apply for a Delta Amex card, you're prompted to enter your Delta SkyMiles number. From that point on, as long as the card is open, the benefits are tied to your SkyMiles account.

Just make sure that you're logged in to your Delta account when booking tickets — or, if you're booking through a third-party portal like Expedia, just enter your Delta number during the booking process. If you go to add a bag when checking in for your flight, you'll see a cost of $0.00. The same will apply for anyone else on the same reservation with you.

The key is making sure that you're on the same reservation. If you book separately, your travel companions won't have access to free checked bags unless they have their own Delta credit card (or hold elite Medallion status).

Delta SkyMiles credit cards

If you're thinking about getting a Delta credit card, now is the perfect time. Three of the cards are offering limited-time welcome bonuses that can get you up to 100,000 bonus miles — but only until April 1.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. You'll earn an additional 10,000 miles after your first cardmember anniversary.

The Platinum version is offering 80,000 miles after spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus another 20,000 miles after your first cardmember anniversary.

Delta's premium card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, offers 80,000 miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in three months. You'll earn an additional 20,000 miles after your first cardmember anniversary.

Delta and Amex recently rolled out some significant changes to their lineup of cards, including additional bonus categories for earning miles and new benefits. The annual fees for most cards also increased.

Don't forget that these welcome bonuses are only available until April 1, so don't wait.

$99 annual fee waived the first year: Click here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Gold card »

$250 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card »

$550 annual fee: Click here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card »

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Jeff Bezos has reportedly broken California's record for the most expensive home sale of all time with his purchase of a $165 million Beverly Hills mansion (AMZN)

February 12, 2020, 2:10 pm

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Lauren Sanchez Jeff Bezos

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos purchased a Beverly Hills, California, mansion for $165 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The estate was designed for the Warner Bros. executive Jack Warner in the 1930s and features its own nine-hole golf course. It was previously owned by the media mogul David Geffen.
The purchase set a record for a property sale in California, eclipsing Lachlan Murdoch's $150 million purchase last year.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos reportedly purchased a Beverly Hills mansion for $165 million, setting the record for the most expensive home sold in California.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal's Katy McLaughlin and Katherine Clarke, Bezos bought the home of the media tycoon David Geffen, a sprawling estate that was originally built for the Warner Bros. executive Jack Warner.

Last week, the New York Post reported that Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, were house hunting in Los Angeles and touring mansions throughout the area. Bezos has been searching for a home for the past year, according to Page Six.

A spokesperson for Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the purchase.

The property, which has been described as a "party palace," was designed in the 1930s. It features a 13,000-square-foot mansion, two guesthouses, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course. It also includes a "motor court" that has a garage and gas pumps, according to Architectural Digest.

Geffen bought the estate in 1990 for $47.5 million. Bezos' purchase eclipses the last record set in the Los Angeles area — the $150 million purchase of the Chartwell estate by Lachlan Murdoch last year.

Bezos and Geffen are known to be friendly: The Amazon CEO was spotted partying on board Geffen's megayacht with Sanchez, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, and model Karlie Kloss off the coast of Spain over the summer.

Along with the Warner estate, Bezos' umbrella company, Bezos Expeditions, also purchased a plot of land in LA that belonged to the estate of Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, according to The Journal. The company paid $90 million for the land, The Journal said.

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↧

Jeff Bezos reportedly just dropped $165 million on a Beverly Hills mansion — here's a look at his lavish properties across the US

February 12, 2020, 2:58 pm

≫ Next: Jeff Bezos reportedly dropped $165 million on a mansion that broke the LA real-estate record. Here are the 17 most expensive homes sold in the US over the past decade.

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Jeff bezos

Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, has amassed a massive real-estate portfolio across the US.
According to The Wall Street Journal, he just dropped $165 million on the Warner Estate in Beverly Hills, making it the most expensive home ever sold in the Los Angeles area.
Last year, he dropped about $80 million for three adjacent New York City apartments.
The Amazon CEO's other real-estate holdings include a 29,000-square-foot Seattle estate, a Texas ranch, a Washington DC mansion, and two neighboring Beverly Hills homes.
It's unknown how Bezos' properties were divided after his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jeff Bezos has amassed a massive real-estate portfolio across the US, from his home state of Washington to New York City.

A 2017 Land Report named Bezos the country's 28th-largest landowner. In June 2019, the Amazon CEO dropped about $80 million on three adjacent New York City apartments in the priciest real-estate deal ever south of 42nd Street in New York, according to appraiser Jonathan Miller. But he had already owned four apartments in a historic building in the city for years. However, his most recent purchase was the Warner Estate in Beverly Hills: According to The Wall Street Journal, Bezos bought the nine-acre property for $165 million from billionaire David Geffen. It's the most expensive home ever sold in the Los Angeles area.

It's unknown how Bezos' properties were divided after his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos was finalized in July 2019. Everything acquired throughout the marriage from real estate to income is considered joint property in the Bezos' home state of Washington, as Business Insider's Tanza Loudenback previously reported. Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on how the properties were divided after the divorce.

Bezos remains the richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $117 billion, while MacKenzie Bezos is now worth $38 billion, making her one of the richest women in the world.

From two neighboring Beverly Hills mansions to a sprawling estate in an exclusive Seattle suburb, here are all the residential properties Bezos is known to own in the US.

Caroline Cakebread contributed to an early version of this article.

Jeff Bezos has spent millions of dollars amassing a collection of residential properties over the years.

A 2017 Land Report named the Amazon CEO the country's 28th-largest landowner.

Over the years, he's picked up several New York City apartments, a ranch in Texas, and homes in Washington state, California, and Washington, DC.

Before Bezos' divorce was finalized in July 2019, these properties also belonged to his wife MacKenzie Bezos, as all real estate acquired throughout a marriage is considered joint property in the Bezos' home state of Washington. (They were married in 1993.)

Although Bezos made at least one major real-estate purchase after his divorce was announced, it's unknown how the properties were divided after the couple split up. Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the matter.

In June 2019, two months after the couple announced their divorce, the Amazon CEO reportedly dropped about $80 million on three adjacent New York City apartments.

The spread included a three-story penthouse and two units directly below it.

It was the priciest real-estate deal south of 42nd Street in New York, appraiser Jonathan Miller told The Wall Street Journal.

Renderings of the inside of the apartment from creative agency VisualHouse show the opulence of the penthouse.

The apartments have 12 bedrooms in total and span 17,000 square feet of living space.

Bezos' home base is a nearly 29,000-square-foot estate in Medina, Washington.

Bezos' two homes in Medina span about 5.3 acres.

According to the Wall Street Journal, he paid $10 million for the property in 1998. One home is a 20,600-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom house, and the other is an 8,300-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bathroom home rumored to have cost $53 million.

Medina, located on a peninsula just across Lake Washington from Seattle, is an exclusive suburb that's also home to Bill Gates, as well as other Microsoft bigwigs, tech entrepreneurs, and telecom magnates.

Many of the neighborhood's mansions are hidden away behind gates and protected by elaborate security systems.

Bezos' estate underwent a $28 million renovation in 2010.

The home, which sits right on the shores of Lake Washington, includes 310 feet of private shoreline and a boathouse.

Bezos also owns property in Beverly Hills, California, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Bezos bought this Spanish-style mansion in 2007 for $24.45 million.

The seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom Beverly Hills home is advertised by Dream Homes Magazine as having a greenhouse, a sunken and lighted tennis court, a huge swimming pool, four fountains, and a six-car garage. The street is a hotspot for Hollywood stars, and is said to have been home to Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Walter Matthau.

Ten years later, Bezos bought a smaller house next door.

Apparently, the first Beverly Hills house did not fit Bezos' space requirements. In 2017, he bought a comparatively modest four-bedroom, 4,568-square-foot home for $12.9 million right next door to his first house. As you can see in the above picture, Bezos' property dominates the mansion-filled block.

His most recent Beverly Hills purchase, as reported by The Wall Street Journal on February 12, is the Warner Estate.

The Warner Estate, according to The Wall Street Journal, was designed for Jack Warner — the former president of Warner Bros. Studios — in the 1930s. Bezos reportedly bought the home from billionaire David Geffen, who bought it back in 1990 for $47.5 million.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Bezos bought the nine-acre property for a whopping $165 million, making it the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles.

On February 12, The Wall Street Journal also reported that Bezos Expeditions — which manages Bezos' venture capital investments — bought a plot of undeveloped land in Los Angeles for $90 million. It is believed to be an investment.

Bezos also owns a 30,000-acre ranch about 30 miles from the town of Van Horn, Texas.

Bezos grew up spending summers on his grandparents' ranch outside of Cotulla, Texas and bought the 30,000-acre Figure 2 ranch to give his family the same experience.

Bezos bought the 30,000-acre property after the seller spent "millions" renovating it.

The U-shaped ranch house seen above is a remnant from the seller, who reportedly put "millions" into renovating it. Behind the home is a bunkhouse that sleeps 12.

The property is also the base for Bezos' private space company, Blue Origin.

Blue Origin made history in 2015 when it successfully launched and landed the reusable rocket, New Shepard. Its goal is to become a space tourism company, ferrying passengers up for weightless rides as soon as April 2019.

The Amazon CEO can also call the US capital home as of 2016.

In 2016, Bezos bought a former textile museum in Washington, DC for $23 million.

The 27,000-square-foot space in DC's Kalorama neighborhood is a former textile museum and dates back to 1912, earning it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

The neighborhood, Kalorama, is a hot spot for Washington big wigs.

The Obamas own a $5.3 million home nearby, and Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner recently moved in right down the street.

The two joint structures on the property have nearly 27,000 square feet of living space, making it the largest home in Washington, DC.

Bezos is said to be spending $12 million to renovate the homes and the surrounding property.

In January 2020, a source told The Washington that Bezos had also bought the four-bedroom home across the street.

The brick house went on the market for just under $5 million in December 2019 and sold less than a month later, according to the The Washingtonian.

The publication suggests that the Amazon CEO may have picked up the neighboring property to protect his privacy, as the home had a direct view into his mansion across the street.

An Amazon spokesperson did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Bezos' rumored purchase of the home.

In addition to his 2019 New York City real-estate purchase, Bezos has already owned real estate in the city for years.

In December 2019, Amazon announced plans to open a new 1,500-employee office in New York City, less than a year after scrapping its plans to build its second headquarters in the city.

But the Amazon CEO has already owned residential property in the city for years.

He bought three condos in a historic Manhattan building overlooking Central Park for $7.65 million in 1999.

In 1999, Bezos bought three condos in the Century building at 25 Central Park West in New York City's Upper West Side under an LLC called "Jetima." The purchase was from former Sony Music head Tommy Mottola for $7.65 million.

Bezos bought an additional unit for $5.3 million in 2012, making him the owner of four condos in the historic building.

The 32-story Art Deco building was built in 1931 and boasts a concierge, elevator attendants, and three separate entrances, as well as a prime location right next to Central Park.

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Jeff Bezos reportedly dropped $165 million on a mansion that broke the LA real-estate record. Here are the 17 most expensive homes sold in the US over the past decade.

February 12, 2020, 3:13 pm

≫ Next: Jeff Bezos reportedly just bought the most expensive home ever sold in California — after spending nearly a year touring some of the priciest mega-mansions in the state

≪ Previous: Jeff Bezos reportedly just dropped $165 million on a Beverly Hills mansion — here's a look at his lavish properties across the US

Business Insider teamed up with Jonathan Miller, the president and CEO of the real estate and consulting firm Miller Samuel Inc., to gather a list of the 17 most expensive home sales the US has seen since December of 2009.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the most recent home on the list is a sprawling estate purchased by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in February 2020 for a jaw-dropping $165 million.
Other recent sales include the Chartwell Estate in Los Angeles, California, which sold for $150 million, and a $111 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida, both in December 2019.
The list includes single-family homes and condos; they range from $99 million to nearly $240 million.
Of the 17 homes that made the list, 16 are located in either Florida, New York, or California.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos reportedly just bought a 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion featuring two guest houses, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course for a casual $165 million, eclipsing the recently-set California real-estate record.

But the US has long been home to jaw-dropping real estate with equally jaw-dropping price tags. And Jonathan Miller, the president and CEO of real estate and consulting firm Miller Samuel Inc., has spent the past few years compiling all the sales of single-family homes and condos at or above $50 million in the US.

He shared that information with Business Insider so that we could round up the 17 most expensive residential sales the country has seen over the past 10 years.

From a number of $100 million mansions to one nearly $240 million penthouse, 16 out of the 17 most expensive homes are located in either Florida, New York, or California— three states with notoriously expensive housing markets. Recent homes to make the list include the Chartwell Estate in Los Angeles, California, which sold for $150 million, and a $111 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Keep reading to see a full ranking of the 17 most expensive home sales the country has seen since December of 2009.

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T16. This 25,000-square-foot mansion in Los Altos Hills, California, sold in 2011 for $100 million.

This mansion on La Paloma Road, called Palo Alto Loire Chateau, was built to mirror an 18th-century French chateau.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, at the time of the purchase, the home featured indoor and outdoor pools, a ballroom, and a wine cellar.

T16. This mansion in Holmby Hills — a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2016 for $100 million.

Also known as the Playboy Mansion, 10236 Charing Cross Road was originally listed for $200 million in January 2016.

As Business Insider previously reported, the property was sold a few months later (for half its asking price) to the next-door neighbor who, at the time of the sale, expressed interest in connecting the two properties.

T16. This property in Malibu, California, sold in 2019 for $100 million.

This property, 27600 Pacific Coast Highway, is located along the legendarily scenic state highway. It includes two guest houses, a tennis court, a spa house, a two-story library, a theater, a gym, and a pool, along with other amenities.

It fell just $10 million short of matching the most expensive home sale in Malibu.

T16. This 10-bedroom mansion in Holmby Hills — a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2016 for $100 million.

As Business Insider previously reported, this mansion, which is located at 301 North Carolwood Drive, was built on speculation and originally listed for $150 million.

The home spans 38,000 square feet and includes everything from private hiking trails to a movie theater complex.

13. A penthouse in Manhattan, New York, sold in 2014 for $100,471,452.

This penthouse is located on the 89th and 90th floors of One57, a residential skyscraper in the Midtown area referred to as Billionaire's Row.

It spans 11,000 square feet and boasts six bedrooms. Up until 2019, it was the most expensive home ever sold in New York City.

T12. A compound in Malibu, California, sold in 2018 for $110 million.

As Business Insider previously reported, this beachfront home is located on Carbon Beach, also called "Billionaire's Beach," which is known for its multimillion-dollar homes and ultra-wealthy residents.

The home, which was designed by Richard Meier, includes a main residence and a guest house.

T12. Three properties on Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton, New York, sold in a single sale in 2016 for $110 million.

Before this sale, the three properties — 93, 97, and 101 Lily Pond Lane — were bought in 2014 for $93.9 million.

According to a report by the New York Post, the properties total 6.4 acres and include 284 feet of oceanfront access.

10. An oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, sold in 2019 for $110,250,000.

This 13-bedroom property, also known as La Follia, is located at 1295 S. Ocean Blvd, only half a mile from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

As Business Insider previously reported, it was originally listed in 2018 for $135 million. The property includes 210 feet of private beach, lush gardens, and a private boat dock.

9. In early December of 2019, an 11-bedroom, 22-bathroom mansion in Palm Beach, Florida sold for $111 million.

According to a report by CNBC, hedge fund billionaire Steven Schonfeld and his wife closed on the property on December 3, making it the most expensive home ever sold in Florida.

The property boasts over 70,000 square feet of living space, a bowling alley, a spa, an ice cream stand, and a candy parlor, according to CNBC.

8. A 9-acre estate in Woodside, California, sold in 2012 for $117,500,000.

Until 2019, this home, which is located at 360 Mountain Home Road, was the most expensive residence ever sold in California.

As Business Insider previously reported, the off-market deal took place in November 2012.

7. A massive mansion in Holmby Hills — a ritzy neighborhood in Los Angeles, California — sold in 2019 for $119,750,000.

Also known as The Manor, this home, which is located at 594 S. Mapleton Drive, is the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Times.

6. A 51-acre estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, sold in 2014 for $120 million.

Known as Copper Beech Farm, this property, which is located at 499 Indian Field Road, was originally listed in May 2013 for $190 million.

According to a report by Forbes, the price was cut by $50 million in September 2013, and then dropped another $10 million before it closed for $120 million in 2014.

It's the only home on this list in a state that's not California, Florida, or New York.

5. Four oceanfront properties in Palm Beach, Florida, sold in 2013 for a total of $129,600,000.

These four properties are located at 20, 30, 40 and 50 Blossom Way.

According to a report by The Real Deal, the buyer owns all the properties along that street. The report also states that many of the properties have been demolished.

4. A massive estate in East Hampton, New York, sold in 2014 for $137 million.

This 18-acre property, located at 60 Further Lanes, was the most expensive home ever sold in the US until 2019.

The sale price was first mistakenly reported as $147 million by several publications in 2014 (though either amount qualified it as the priciest real estate in the country at the time of the sale).

3. A 26-room mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles sold for $150 million in December 2019.

As Business Insider previously reported, this massive estate, also known as the Chartwell Estate, spans more than 10 acres.

The property originally hit the market for $350 million in 2017. For a couple months, it was the most expensive home ever sold in California and the second-priciest ever sold in the US. It has a 26-bedroom mansion and an underground tunnel.

Another Los Angeles sale in February 2020 eclipsed its record.

2. According to The Wall Street Journal, a 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion sold for a record-breaking $165 million in February 2020.

The mammoth property purchase eclipsed the record set by Chartwell Estate in 2019.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos purchased the 1930s estate from media mogul David Geffen. The home was originally designed for Warner Bros. executive Jack Warner and features its own nine-hole golf course.

1. The penthouse atop 220 Central Park South, a residential tower in Manhattan, New York, sold in January 2019 for $239,958,219.

This New York City penthouse spans the 50th through the 53rd floor of 220 Central Park South. It currently holds the title as the most expensive home ever sold in the US.

Billionaire hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin bought the property in a record-breaking sale.

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Jeff Bezos reportedly just bought the most expensive home ever sold in California — after spending nearly a year touring some of the priciest mega-mansions in the state

February 12, 2020, 3:39 pm

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Casa Encantada Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos reportedly just spent $165 million on a new Beverly Hills mansion, shattering the previous record for the most expensive home ever sold in California.
Bezos had been touring mega-mansions with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez since last March, The New York Post's Josh Kosman and Jennifer Gould Keil reported.
The centibillionaire Amazon CEO toured and eventually passed on a 26-room Bel Air mansion that later broke sales records when it sold to Rupert Murdoch's son Lachlan for about $150 million in December, The Post reported.
Bezos already owns two mansions in Beverly Hills, in addition to a 29,000-square-foot Seattle estate, a Texas ranch, and a Washington DC mansion.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez may have bought a home of their very own, according to new reports.

Bezos is the new owner of a 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion, The Wall Street Journal's Katy McLaughlin and Katherine Clarke reported. The home, which was originally designed for Warner Bros. Studios executive Jack Warner in the 1930s, features two guest houses, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course, according to Architectural Digest. Bezos reportedly paid film producer David Geffen $165 million for the estate, which would make it the most expensive home ever sold in California.

Bezos and Sanchez's house-hunting was a hot topic among high-end Los Angeles real-estate brokers, The New York Post's Josh Kosman and Jennifer Gould Keil reported February 2.

LA's iconic Chartwell Estate— best known for being featured in the opening credits of "The Beverly Hillbillies" — was among the properties Bezos and Sanchez reportedly toured. The 26-room mansion features a 75-foot swimming pool, a five-bedroom guest house, a tennis court, a 12,000-bottle wine cellar, manicured gardens, a secret underground tunnel, and panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.

That property has since been purchased by fellow billionaire Lachlan Murdoch, the son of NewsCorp founder Rupert Murdoch, Business Insider reported in December. Murdoch paid approximately $150 million for the estate, making it the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles, The LA Times reported.

chartwell estate los angeles

A representative of Hilton & Hyland, the brokerage firm that represented the Chartwell Estate before the sale, did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Bezos's tour.

Bezos and his girlfriend are also rumored to have toured "Casa Encantada," a 40,000-square-foot estate in Bel-Air, The Post reported. That mansion features a guest house, a pool house, a basketball court, a tennis court, greenhouses, a rose garden, and koi ponds, all with restored 1930s finishings, Business Insider reported. Casa Encantada has an asking price of $225 million, making it the most expensive property currently on the market in the United States, according to The Times.

A representative of Casa Encantada did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on Bezos' interest in the property.

Casa Hilton Hyland

House-hunting is hard — even if you're Jeff Bezos

Bezos was reportedly in the market for a new Los Angeles home for nearly a year. Last March, Bezos and Sanchez secretly toured a different Bel Air mansion, Page Six reported. Asking $88 million, that property features a rooftop deck, infinity pool, and panoramic views, according to a listing from Hilton & Hyland.

Despite having more money than any other person on Earth, Bezos apparently had limited options when it came to home-buying. There were less than ten properties for sale in the Los Angeles area that met the Amazon CEO's "needs," Los Angeles-based luxury real-estate broker Drew Gitlin of Berkshire Hathaway told The Post prior to Bezos's reported purchase of Geffen's home. Gitlin did not specify what Bezos's needs are, however.

Even if the Amazon CEO had struck out in Beverly Hills, he still has two other homes in Los Angeles where he and Sanchez could stay when they're in the city, Business Insider reported. Bezos's expansive real-estate portfolio also includes two homes in Medina, Washington; a 30,000-acre ranch in Texas; three adjacent New York City apartments worth about $80 million combined ; and a Washington DC mansion, although it's unclear how these properties were divided in his 2019 divorce.

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4 credit cards that get you free or discounted access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges

February 13, 2020, 7:19 am

≫ Next: 5 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day as a queer person and feel good about it

≪ Previous: Jeff Bezos reportedly just bought the most expensive home ever sold in California — after spending nearly a year touring some of the priciest mega-mansions in the state

Delta Sky Club JFK Busy

If Delta is your airline of choice and you want access to its Sky Club airport lounges, having a Delta credit card can get you in for free.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offer discounted one-time access to Delta Sky Club lounges, while the premium Delta cards offer complimentary access whenever you fly Delta.
Until April 1, when you open the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card or the Delta SkyMiles Business Platinum card, you can earn 80,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months, and you'll get another 20,000 miles after your first anniversary of cardmembership.
The premium cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, are offering 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months, and another 20,000 bonus miles after your first cardmember anniversary.
See Business Insider's list of the best airline credit cards »

Like the other major US airlines, Delta has its own network of airport lounges, called Delta Sky Clubs. These provide a place to relax before a flight, and Sky Club amenities include Wi-Fi, snacks, and drinks.

One of the benefits of Delta's two Platinum Credit cards — the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card — is the ability to purchase discounted access to Delta's Sky Club airport lounges. And two other credit cards can get you free Delta Sky Club access when you fly Delta.

Earn up to 100,000 miles: Click here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card »

Earn up to 100,000 miles and 20,000 MQMs toward status: Click here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card »

How can you access Delta Sky Club airport lounges?

You have several options for accessing Delta's Sky Club lounges. If you're traveling in Delta One or in a premium cabin on one of Delta's SkyTeam alliance partners, you're entitled to Sky Club access, and you can also purchase a Delta Sky Club membership outright for $545. You can also get Sky Club access through Delta elite status.

Finally, having the right credit card can get you complimentary or reduced-price access to a Delta Sky Club. Note that you need to have a same-day Delta boarding pass in order to access one of these lounges.

Delta Sky Club access with select credit cards

In the past, anyone could purchase one-time access to Sky Clubs for $59 at any lounge's front desk. However, these day passes were eliminated in November 2018.

Discounted access with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards

Delta recently updated its credit card portfolio, and it eliminate the benefit of discounted Sky Club access on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. Fortunately, single-visit passes are still available for Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders.

The two cards are the:

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card ($250 annual fee)
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express card ($250 annual fee)

If you have one of those Delta Platinum cards, you can buy access to the Sky Club for just $39.

Those discounted lounge passes are great for travelers who occasionally fly Delta, or would only use the lounge access a few times each year — for instance, in case of delays, long connections, or a tendency to arrive for flights a bit early.

Complimentary access with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards

If you can see yourself using the Sky Club more often, you should instead consider Delta's premium cards:

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express card ($550 annual fee)
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express card ($550 annual fee)

Cardholders get complimentary access to Sky Clubs whenever they're flying Delta — and they can also access Amex Centurion lounges when they're flying Delta. This helps offset the cards' $550 annual fee.

The Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cards come with a few other perks, including a domestic first-class companion certificate, 3x miles on Delta purchases, and opportunities to earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward elite status for meeting spending thresholds on the card.

Complimentary Sky Club, Centurion Lounge, and Priority Pass access with the Amex Platinum

An alternative, if you're looking for the widest lounge access you can get from a credit card, the best option is the (not Delta-branded) Platinum Card® from American Express. In addition to Sky Club access whenever flying Delta, that card offers access to Priority Pass lounges, Amex's own Centurion and International Lounges, and more. That's a network of over 1,200 lounges around the world.

The Amex Platinum has a high $550 annual fee, but it's easy to get more value than that — in my first year with the card, I got over $2,000 in value. Right now, the card offers 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months.

Click here to learn more about the Amex Platinum card »

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5 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day as a queer person and feel good about it

February 13, 2020, 7:30 am

≫ Next: Whole Foods is hosting 6-course Italian dinners for free. Here's how to get in on the deal.

≪ Previous: 4 credit cards that get you free or discounted access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges

couple

Anni Irish is a writer who has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York City; she holds a BFA from Tufts University, an MA in gender and cultural studies from Simmons College, and an MA in performance studies from New York University.
Valentine's Day can be a complicated holiday for members of the LGBT community — its commercialization and popularity often does not include LGBT representation.
To make it a meaningful day, LGBT people can practice self-care and honor the people in their lives who they care about.
They can also patronize queer-owned businesses and feminist sex shops to give back to the community.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Valentine's Day can be a complicated holiday to navigate for the LGBT community. Societally, there is still an outsized emphasis on heteronormative standards of relationships, sex, and romantic love. For people in the LGBT community, Valentine's Day and the larger representation of it are often made to feel at odds with mainstream society.

Due to the larger lack of representation of the queer community, this time of year can be frustrating, isolating, awkward, and even sad for queer people — it's just another instance where they are not being represented.

There are serious issues that queer people still face today. Those within the LGBT community are more than two times likely to have a mental health condition than straight people. They are also at a higher risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts than the general population— and queer youth are five times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight counterparts due to bullying, harassing, and other forms of discrimination they face. On the whole, Valentine's Day does not help in fighting the day-to-day inequalities.

The commercialization of Valentine's Day over the last several decades has continually focused on straight couples and their relationships. GLAAD's 2018 film survey found that only 12.8% of 109 films surveyed included an LGBT character — down from 18% the previous year.

In the US alone, the sales of Valentine's Day-related items brought in a whopping $20.7 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation. This is up by 6% from last year. This commercialization does not make a lot of space for queer individuals: Hallmark currently makes a significantly lower number of cards geared towards queer couples versus the hundreds of other options for heterosexual folks.

Recently, alternatives to the day have become popular — like Galentine's Day, meant to celebrate female friendships. There is even Palentine's Day, which puts more emphasis on pals/friends than gender.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, there is even more of a reason to practice self-care. Taking care of yourself and checking in with how you feel — as well as your partner, if you are in a relationship — and communicating your emotions is important. Here are five things you can do to make yourself feel better as a queer person on this holiday — and how straight allies can support their queer friends.

1. Volunteer at an LGBT center in your area

One way to give back to your local LGBT community — and to show a little love to those who may be experiencing a hard time — is volunteering at a queer center in your area. To locate a site in your state go here.

From there, it's as simple as a quick phone call or email to see what their volunteering process is like and signing up. It is a wonderful way to help out, donate your time to a great cause, and hopefully make others — including yourself — feel better in the process.

2. Making Valentines or small gifts for the people in your life who matter the most

Another way to avoid the commercialization of the holiday and heteronormative standards of Valentine's Day is to make your own Valentines or small handmade gifts and present them to the people in your life who matter. This isn't always just a lover or partner — this can be members of your own family or your chosen queer family, friends, etc.

This activity will allow your creativity to shine through and make the people in your life you care about also feel special. There is no one right way to make a Valentine or a gift — it is the thought that counts. It could be anything from baking cookies or other treats to crafting to simply making a card.

3. Practicing self-care

Practicing self-care is essential and takes on many forms. On Valentine's Day — which can sometimes be triggering for people depending on their dating history — taking care of yourself is even more vital. If you were in a bad relationship or experienced trauma because of dating, Valentine's Day can feel even more overwhelming.

If you are able to take the day off and get a hotel or just have a staycation, this is one way to celebrate. This can allow you to recharge and focus on yourself and what matters most to you. It lets you do the things you might not normally do. Valentine's Day is about love in general, so remember to love yourself because the relationship you have with yourself is one of the most important ones there is.

Whatever way you choose to practice self-care should be done for yourself every day — and not just on Valentine's Day. Being kind to yourself and taking the time to feel good about who you are and where you are at in life is everything.

4. Shop at queer-owned businesses

Shopping at queer-owned businesses is one way to directly support the community as well. TransisBeautiful, Otherwild, LoveandPride, and Fluide are just a few stores that offer queer-centric products. Whether you're after sports apparel or the leisure wear that TransisBeautiful offers, cool home goods from Otherwild, or the empowering jewelery of LoveandPride, you can find a little something to bring some joy to you (and maybe someone else special) in your life.

5. Buy toys from a feminist-owned sex shop

Sex toys come with the territory of Valentine's Day, so embracing it and picking up a little something for just you — or maybe you and your partner — is always fun. More times than not feminist sex-toy shops have more options for queer identified folks and offer a more inclusive space. Shops such as Babeland, Unbound, Good Vibrations, and Lelo offer a range of options for whatever you might be looking for.

If you are straight, be an ally to the LGBT community on V-Day and beyond

There are also things heterosexual people can do to support the queer community on this day. You can donate to a cause that helps LGBT youth and the community at large such as G.L.A.A.D., the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, the Human Rights Campaign, and GLSEN. Volunteering at an organization that benefits the community is a great way to demonstrate your support.

Simply trying to show up for those in your life who are queer-identified and making them feel heard and acknowledged is important. Show your support for your queer friends by making them a Valentine, checking in with them, spending time with them, and supporting their endeavors.

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Whole Foods is hosting 6-course Italian dinners for free. Here's how to get in on the deal.

February 13, 2020, 7:49 am

≫ Next: 7 emotionally hard (but necessary) questions to ask your partner before getting serious

≪ Previous: 5 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day as a queer person and feel good about it

Whole Foods pop-up free Italian dinner

Whole Foods is offering free six-course Italian dinners in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta on February 20 as a one-time pop-up event.
Reservations open Thursday at noon on Eventbrite. There will be 20 seats available in New York, 25 in Los Angeles, 28 in Austin, and 33 in Atlanta, along with an unlimited waitlist.
The family-style dinner event will be hosted by the grocer's cheese, wine and culinary experts, as well as by some Italian food suppliers. Curated wine and prosecco pairings for each course are also complimentary.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Whole Foods is rolling out a one-time pop-up event called "A Little Italy," offering free six-course Italian dinners in four US cities on the same night.

20 customers in New York, 25 in Los Angeles, 28 in Austin, and 33 in Atlanta will enjoy an intimate, family-style six-course Italian feast, along with curated wine and prosecco pairings for each course, the specialty grocer announced in a press release on Monday.

Reservations open Thursday at noon on Eventbrite.

A Whole Foods spokesperson told Business Insider that there will be an unlimited waitlist, and the grocer "encourages waitlist sign-ups." If any registered attendee cancels their reservation, the next person on the waitlist will be added to the event and be notified via email.

The pop-up dinners will be co-hosted by experts from the retailer's cheese, wine, and culinary teams, including Master Sommelier Devon Broglie and longstanding World Cheese Awards judge Cathy Strange, along with cheese makers and prosciutto suppliers from Italy.

"Our dedicated team members travel throughout Italy to bring the finest traditionally-produced Italian items to Whole Foods Market stores, and we're excited to offer these authentic products together on a dinner menu for one night only," Whole Foods Market's vice president of specialty, Cathy Strange, said in a press release.

According to a full menu shared with Business Insider, the dinner's menu will include dishes like cacio e pepe, beef osso buco with moscato, and roasted cavolo nero, radicchio, and cauliflower, while paired wines include Monterustico Bianco and Criterion Pinot Grigio.

Shoppers can also get special offers on the selected Italian specialties starting February 12.

Here is where you can claim a complimentary seat in each city.

New York: https://a-little-italy-newyork-ny.eventbrite.com

Los Angeles: https://a-little-italy-losangeles-ca.eventbrite.com

Austin: https://a-little-italy-austin-tx.eventbrite.com

Atlanta: https://a-little-italy-atlanta-ga.eventbrite.com

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7 emotionally hard (but necessary) questions to ask your partner before getting serious

February 13, 2020, 7:57 am

≫ Next: Mercedes-Benz collaborated with a boat maker to create this 59-foot speedboat and matching G-Class SUV

≪ Previous: Whole Foods is hosting 6-course Italian dinners for free. Here's how to get in on the deal.

lesbian relationship

Valentine's Day is always a great time to appreciate your partner and reflect on your relationship.
Before getting too serious, there are certain facts you should definitely know about them, such as how much debt they have and how they feel about divorce.
We checked out a Reddit thread on the topic and highlighted some of the most compelling questions.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You will never get to know your partner perfectly. In fact, that's one of the beautiful things about being in a relationship: Your partner is constantly surprising you.

That said, there are some basic things you probably should know before establishing a life with someone. Over on Reddit, there's a thread titled, "What questions should everyone ask their partners before getting married?" Most of the questions apply to couples starting to get serious, and not just couples heading to the altar.

Below, we've highlighted seven of the most important questions from that thread. Read on and see which you still have to ask.

Do you want kids?

That's a tip from IntoTheMystic1.

It's best to address the topic of parenthood sooner rather than later, so no one winds up resentful — or heartbroken — years down the line.

If you or your partner are (understandably) worried that having kids will change your relationship for the worse, you should arm yourself with knowledge about what helps parents maintain intimacy.

Some researchers suggest that there are certain "buffers" against marital disaster after the birth of a child, including:

"Building fondness and affection for your partner"
"Being aware of what is going on in your spouse's life and being responsive to it"
"Approaching problems as something you and your partner can control and solve together as a couple"

Who will do the cooking, laundry, and housework?

That question comes from Back2Bach, who adds: "What can we do as a couple to divide the routine chores and responsibilities so that each feels they're making an equal contribution to the relationship and daily living?"

Back2Bach is onto something: According to a 2007 Pew Research poll, sharing household chores is the third most important factor in a successful marriage. (The first two are faithfulness and a happy sexual relationship).

In an excerpt from "Fast-Forward Family" published in The Atlantic, three researchers write that even today, women tend to shoulder the brunt of their family's housework.

The researchers also write that having some guidelines about who does which chores when can be helpful:

"The couples in our study who lacked clarity on what, when, and how household tasks and responsibilities would be carried out often said that they felt drained and rushed and had difficulty communicating their dissatisfaction in their lives. Spouses who appeared to have a clear and respectful understanding of one another's roles and tasks, in contrast, did not spend as much time negotiating responsibilities; their daily lives seemed to flow more smoothly."

How much debt (if any) do you have?

VanDriver1 writes, "It may not be a deal breaker in regards to getting married, but a $20k surprise after the wedding is not something you need to deal with."

An honest conversation about finances — especially about debt — is key before getting married, or even getting serious. As Business Insider reported, lying about your debt can potentially destroy your relationship.

For one thing, Valerie Rind, author of "Gold Diggers and Deadbeat Dads: True Stories of Friends, Family, and Financial Ruin," said, "If you're tying your horse to someone else's wagon, you need to know not only what's coming in, but what's going out."

What's more, Rind said, "You need to know how somebody runs their finances because that totally affects the whole picture."

How much time apart do you need?

"My wife and I like to go on trips/do stuff with just our friends, and we like to go on trips together," says jdoe74. "We have married friends that can't ever seem to get permission to do anything."

Interestingly, spending time apart and getting some of your needs met outside your relationship may be exactly what your partnership needs.

In his book "The All-or-Nothing Marriage," Eli Finkel, a psychologist at Northwestern University and a professor at the Kellogg School of Management, recommends asking less of your marriage as a way to strengthen it. For example, maybe your partner doesn't crave late-night philosophical debates the way you do; maybe a friend does.

Finkel told Business Insider, "If you find yourself chronically disappointed in one element of your marriage, one of the really good ways of dealing with that is to think about: Is it really essential that I try to meet this need in particular through the marriage?"

What do you consider cheating?

AvieLikesThis writes, "There are those who believe looking at pornography or going to strip clubs is cheating. Bottom line is, everyone has different limits. Establish the boundaries, before getting into a marriage."

This question about infidelity has never been more relevant. As Insider's Kristin Salaky reports, "emotional affairs" are becoming increasingly common — and increasingly tricky to define.

Some signs that you're involved in an emotional affair include thinking about another person constantly and getting defensive when your partner confronts you about it.

And if you're suspicious that your partner's having an emotional affair, take note of any differences in their sexual interest and pay attention to your gut feeling.

How do you feel about divorce?

As chosenamewhendrunk puts it:

"I know this may not sound like a question you want to talk about, but 5 or 10 or 20 years down the track if things get difficult (and they will), will both of you put in anything and everything that is necessary or will one of you go 'eh' and cut their losses? Is there a point that neither of you can come back from? What is the deal breaker: infidelity, addiction, won't go to mother-in-law's for Christmas?

"It's not an easy discussion to have, but it's worth it."

Don't freak out if your partner says they're open to the possibility of divorce — or if you realize you feel that way. Susan Pease Gadoua, coauthor of "The New I Do," previously told Business Insider, "When people see divorce as never an option, it can create some unhealthy dynamics."

That's because simply knowing that you have an "out" — even if you never use it — can be freeing. If you're staying in the relationship, it's because you want to.

How will getting married change our relationship?

"Some people feel the expectations are different when you're married than when you're dating, and others feel that they are the same," says evelynrae. "It's important to be on the same page about expectations for every stage of a relationship."

Writing for the BBC, psychologist Christian Jarrett cites several studies suggesting that people's personalities tend to change after they tie the knot. For example, one 2017 Dutch study found that partners' levels of self-control and forgiveness increased over the first four years of marriage.

Still, it's important to discuss how you'll change and grow together if you're planning to get married, as well as what you're afraid of and excited about.

↧

Mercedes-Benz collaborated with a boat maker to create this 59-foot speedboat and matching G-Class SUV

February 13, 2020, 8:00 am

≫ Next: How to earn a 6-figure salary as a dietitian or nutritionist, according to 4 renowned entrepreneurs in the industry

≪ Previous: 7 emotionally hard (but necessary) questions to ask your partner before getting serious

Cigarette Racing Team 59' Tirranna AMG Edition and Mercedes-AMG 63 SUV Cigarette Edition

Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing Team in partnership have unveiled special edition versions of the 59-foot Tirranna AMG boat and the Mercedes-AMG 63 SUV.
Both have a similar black and gold color scheme and accents.
The two projects were unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show on February 13.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing Team has unveiled its newest partnership project: a special edition 59-foot Tirranna AMG boat and a Cigarette Edition of the Mercedes-AMG 63 SUV.

The companies revealed the 13th special edition version of the boat and a Cigarette Edition of the AMG 63 SUV at the Miami International Boat Show on February 13, and both the land and water transports have a new interior and exterior color scheme and accents. Cigarette Racing Team claims the new Tirranna is a cross between a "luxury yacht and a performance-oriented super console" and was meant to reflect Mercedes-AMG's "Performance Luxury" ideology.

This isn't the first time the two companies have partnered together: Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing Team have worked in conjunction on multiple occasions since 2007. However, their joint work has mostly been in marketing and customer campaigns, according to the automaker.

While prices for both the vehicle and the boat haven't been announced, the non-special edition AMG 63 SUV has a starting price of $156,450, while the Cigarette 59-foot Tirranna starts at $3 million, according to Power and Motor Yacht.

Keep scrolling to see the two new updated luxury modes of transport, on both land and water.

The Cigarette Racing Team's engineers used lightweight materials around certain parts of the boat.

The hardtop, superstructure, stringers, and transom of the boat is carbon fiber.

Having a carbon fiber hardtop reduces the center of gravity, therefore increasing its control, according to its maker.

The hull and deck are composite laminate with a PVC core. The composite laminate increases its strength without heavily increasing its weight, according to Thought Co.

Source: Thought Co.

The instrument panel is anti-reflective and resistant to heat.

Its digital system allows different controls — such as lighting, air conditioners, and monitoring of the pumps — to be accessed through an iPad.

Because it's digitized, the system’s weight is reduced due to a decreased number of cables that are needed to function and control the boat.

"The Tirranna AMG Edition is the perfect transfer of (Mercedes-AMG's performance luxury) to a boat: [it's] dynamic and at the same time deeply sensual proportions embody athletic beauty," chief design officer at Daimler AG Gorden Wagener said in a statement.

The widest point of the boat is 14 inches.

The 59-foot Tirranna has six 4.6-liter Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines.

Each engine peaks at 450 horsepower, giving the Tirranna a total of 2,700 horsepower.

It also gives the boat an 80 mph top speed.

The boat can seat 26 people.

It also has a gyrostabilizer, which helps stabilize the boat and decrease its roll by 80%, according to its maker.

This helps the most in choppier waters.

There are also thrusters on the bow and stern to ease the docking process.

The exterior is metallic black with gold diamond design accents.

The cabin consists of handcrafted leather and has the same interior color combination as the Mercedes AMG G 63 SUV Cigarette Edition: macchiato beige and dark blue.

There are three windows and a skylight — with skylight blinds — in the interior, which allows seafarers to catch the view without being in the sun.

The lower level of the boat has a sofa, cabinet, storage spaces, and a television. The boat also houses a king-sized bed and a bathroom with a shower.

There is a 5,200-watt sound system via its 29 speakers along with the television.

Its upper deck seating can reflect back 30% of heat. The grab rail, which runs the entirety of the boat, is stainless steel.

As for the SUV, Mercedes-AMG G 63's 4.0-liter V8 engine gives the vehicle 577 horsepower.

It also has Mercedes-AMG's Ride Control, which adjusts the wheels according to driving condition.

Like the boat, the Cigarette Edition G 63’s exterior is black metallic with golden diamond accents.

There are also new 22-inch cross-spoke wheels with gold accents.

The radiator grille, push bumper, and side running boards are matte black…

...which contrasts the logo's glossy black.

The steering wheel is dark blue Nappa leather and carbon fiber.

↧

How to earn a 6-figure salary as a dietitian or nutritionist, according to 4 renowned entrepreneurs in the industry

February 13, 2020, 8:15 am

≫ Next: I took 3 Delta flights in one day after finally getting elite status to see if it's really worth having — here's what I discovered

≪ Previous: Mercedes-Benz collaborated with a boat maker to create this 59-foot speedboat and matching G-Class SUV

nutritionists

Nutritionists work with everyone — from regular individuals who wish to optimize their health to elite athletes who want to enhance their performance through diet, exercise, and even stress management.
In 2018, there were approximately 70,900 dietitians and nutritionists in the US.
Business Insider spoke to four nationally-recognized nutritionists who earn well above the average annual wage for their industry, which was $60,370 per year in 2018.
They revealed how they established themselves as experts in their field and gained a devoted following by having a presence — online and in real life — and investing in themselves.
Click here for more BI Prime Stories.

If you have an interest in nutrition and a desire to understand how food choices impact your health and productivity, you may want to consider pursuing a career as a dietitian.

There were approximately 70,900 dietitians and nutritionists in the US in 2018, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. To become a registered dietitian, you have to first earn a bachelor's degree in dietetics, clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, or food and nutrition from an accredited program. You'll then be required to complete an internship in which you spend at least 1,200 hours working under the supervision of a licensed professional. Next, you'll need to pass a registration exam.

Depending on where you live, you may also need to secure a state license in order to pursue employment. And once that's complete, you'll have to commit to continuing education so you're able to impart the most up-to-date and relevant information to your clients.

Though that might sound like a lot of work, registered dietitians can earn a lucrative living.

The average yearly income for a dietitian was $60,370 in 2018, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, but there are a myriad of ways to use your expertise to bring in more than $100,000 annually. You can provide one-on-one, group, or online coaching. Or you can serve as a consultant to sports teams and athletes, work as a spokesperson, make media appearances, publish a book, create a food line, and more.

Four nationally-recognized nutritionists and dietitians who did just this shared their secrets that have enabled them to build successful businesses.

Be authentic in your passion for nutrition and practice what you preach

As the go-to nutritionist for celebrities and Fortune 100 CEOs, Oz Garcia has been helping clients find long-term solutions for achieving optimum health performance for four decades. But before the anti-aging guru began working with A-listers like Heidi Klum, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Hilary Swank, he recognized that he needed to immerse himself in a healthy lifestyle: The avid runner began focusing on the way he ate, slept, and managed stress.

Oz Garcia, celebrity dietitian

"I think one of the most important things in terms of building a kind of venture in the way that I did is you have to be pretty authentic," said Garcia, who is currently head of health and nutritional services for Equinox Fitness Clubs worldwide. "You've got to live the life and be an example and not preach to people."

Garcia got his start by sharing his knowledge with fellow members of the New York Road Runners, where he established himself as both a pioneer and an expert in the field of health and optimum performance. He noted that he's shocked by what he initially "gave away for free," but it led him to make connections that grew his client base. He currently charges $25,000 per client annually for coaching that includes all aspects of diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

Dawn Jackson Blatner— who serves as the nutrition consultant for the Chicago Cubs, sits on the nutrition advisory board of Shape magazine, and earns in the mid-six-figure range annually — agreed.

"My first job was my dream job: a dietitian in a health food store," Blatner said. "Although I absolutely loved the work, I only made enough money to live in a reconverted garage that was roach-infested. I didn't care because I was doing work I loved. The first seven to eight years of my career was pursuing dream work without regard to making money and instead focused on building experience."

How did she pivot from humble beginnings to becoming a sought-after, six-figure dietitian?

Dawn Jackson Blatner, nutrition consultant for the Chicago Cubs

"My mentor suggested I apply to be a media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics," she said. "It was a 'hell yes!' decision for me to apply, and I got the position. I hustled and it introduced me to all types of national media outlets and I was able to start building enough freelance work that I could quit my full-time job."

Blatner also credited joining a mastermind group of three other women with giving her the confidence to ask for more money at each step along her career path, recognizing the value and authenticity she brings to every client and professional engagement.

"I work to present what I know in a way that connects with people on an emotional level, to help people feel excited, hopeful, motivated, and positive about their nutrition," she said. "I don't aim to be an expert: I aim to be a person with an expertise. This mindset helps me keep things relatable, real, and authentic."

Take the initiative to create new opportunities and don't let 'no' stop you

While pursuing a dual degree in nutrition and exercise science at Kansas State University in the mid 1990s, Mitzi Dulan read that internships at the Olympic Training Center were among the top 50 most prestigious in the country. Unfortunately, a sports-nutrition internship didn't exist. Rather than let that stop her, Dulan penned handwritten letters and made phone calls to the internship coordinator, hoping the center would consider creating one.

"This took me nearly one year of writing and calling," she said. "I did make contact after about eight months, and she said they didn't have an internship, but she might see if they could offer one. A few months later she called with the news that they were going to offer it for the first time, and I was being offered the position."

Mitzi Dulan, KC Royals and Chiefs nutritionist

Dulan employed that same hustle to create the career she wanted. As she was completing an internship at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, she was offered the chance to earn $42,000 per year as a clinical dietitian. Though she was tempted to take the position, she wanted to forge an entrepreneurial path which allowed her to pair her nutrition knowledge with her love for sports — and the ability to substantially increase her income. She reached out to all the sports teams in the Bay Area by phone to explain her dual degrees, unique Olympic Training Center internship, and how she could help their players improve performance through nutrition.

Dulan's calls paid off when she heard back from two teams, and she became the first sports team nutritionist for the Golden State Warriors.

"Now there are so many opportunities in sports nutrition, but back then there were none," said Dulan, who went on to serve as the team nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals baseball team and the Kansas City Chiefs football team. "I had to go out there, explain what I was going to do, and sell them on how I was going to improve their performance."

Blatner, too, wasn't discouraged during those early years when things didn't go her way.

"Most of my first jobs all started with a 'no,'" she recalled. "I begged, worked for free, offered test periods for my services, and believed in myself when other people did not. I got opportunities because I put it all on the line."

Blatner shared that it took almost three years of pitching ideas every week before she got her first television segment, which led her to become a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Establish a presence — online and in person

Because one of the first places clients may find you is online, having a professional website and regularly updated social media platforms is key.

Dulan, who was living and working in San Francisco in the late 1990s, credits the dotcom boom with helping propel her business. The dietitian said she was ahead of the curve in recognizing the importance of not only having a website, but also securing a strong URL: NutritionExpert.com.

"I was an early adopter of Pinterest and pinning great nutrition and fitness content, and during the days when everyone was signing up, I feel like if someone signed up with certain interests, that Pinterest automatically had them follow me," Dulan said. "I've never confirmed this 100%, but I was gaining about 25,000 followers per day for quite a while."

Think of your website as your calling card, said Garcia.

"Make sure that your website is compelling; make it yourself, if you have to, using Squarespace," said Garcia, who also recommended professionals join LinkedIn. "Blog daily. I think blogging makes an immense difference. If you're going to use social media — Instagram — you've got to post everyday."

Much like Dulan and Garcia, Blatner said she started her career before the rise of social media, so she spent much of her time focused on magazines and television. Since then, she's embraced and blended platforms like Instagram into the mix. Still, she cautioned others to remember that posts shouldn't be about you: Shift the focus from yourself to what others can learn from you.

Libby Rothschild, registered dietitian and host of the

Libby Rothschild, registered dietitian and host of the "Dietitian Boss" podcast, said using social media marketing is how she grew her business from a side hustle to nearly a $500,000 in revenue within 10 months.

"I set goals for how I want to measure success both in terms of reach and sales," Rothschild explained. "What's made me stand out is consistency. I show up and do the work. I'm focused, ambitious, and I take my audience with me on my journey every step of the way, which inspires them and holds me accountable."

Describing herself as an "accidental entrepreneur," Rothschild shared that before using social media marketing, she relied on "outdated ways to make money, such as in-person networking and word-of-mouth referrals." Marketing on Instagram added $1,000 to her monthly income after just two months on the platform.

Which side stands out? Comment👇🏼⠀ ⠀ Vacations in a clinical setting can range from 1-3 weeks a year in *most cases. ⠀ ⠀ When I worked as a clinical dietitian I got 3 weeks of vacation per year, and it felt limiting. 😖⠀ ⠀ In private practice you can set your own rules so that you can go on vacation when you want, how you want and under the conditions you set. You are your own boss. ⠀ ⠀ I take time off when I want and how I want. I have three vacations planned during the first 6 months of 2020. I live the life that I want on my terms because I set it up this way, and you can too. I show you how to create your own rules and become a dietitian boss so you don’t have to work for one. ⠀ ⠀ When you design the business of your dreams you call the shots and nothing feels more rewarding. Living life on your terms and impacting more people feels incredible. Are you ready to apply yourself too? Apply to my small group program (slits limited the group is filling quickly) ✨link in bio✨ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #dietetics #dieteticsstudent #dieteticintern #nutritionmajor #businesscoach #girlbossquotes #registereddietitian #registereddietitiannutritionist #dietitiansofinstagram #dietitiansofig #clinical #rdapproved #salestips #clinicaldietitian #womeninbusiness #privatepractice #therapistsofig #businessgrowthstrategy #businesspodcast #womeninbiz #healthprofessionals #therapistsofinstagram #buildingrelationships
A post shared by Libby Rothschild, MS, RD (@libbyrothschild) on Jan 6, 2020 at 3:55pm PST on Jan 6, 2020 at 3:55pm PST

"This posted during my launch in January (last month), and the website clicks translated to prospects booking a discovery call, which directly translated into sales," she said.

But meeting with people and groups in person is just as important, Garcia said. He also recommended joining local and national organizations — where you have an opportunity to network and meet colleagues and potential clients — as well as public speaking.

When Dulan was just starting her career, she joined Bay Area District Dietitians and Nutrition Entrepreneurs, a national organization, where she connected with Maye Musk: model, dietitian, and mom to Tesla CEO, Elon. Like Garcia, Dulan is a sought-after media source and spokesperson who believes in over-delivering to her clients.

"Of course, the biggest way of over-delivering in the PR world is to be able to bring opportunities to your clients," she said. "PR has changed a lot and it can be hard to get media. I have developed great relationships over the years and also get a lot of email requests for media interviews with top media."

Invest in yourself and your business

In order to best serve his clients, Garcia said he keeps himself on the cutting edge by taking courses and attending programs whenever possible.

"This past weekend, I did a course with Steven Kotler, who is probably one of the greatest journalists and writers on the subject matter of the current state of neuroscience as it affects athletes and human optimization," he said. "In the middle of an extraordinarily busy week overall, I took the time out to go do it, and that's the kind of information that when you bring it back, makes you a hundred times more capable of impacting somebody who is tired, worn-out, has the money but doesn't know how to enjoy themselves, and teach them how to craft a better life."

Reinvesting in herself and her business is something Rothschild also prioritizes.

"I use the Profit First Method for accounting, created by Mike Michalowicz, which means that I allocate money every month to my operating budget," she explained. "I regularly set 45% of my earnings to operation expenses, which includes investing back into my company. I invest heavily into coaching, mentors, contract workers, and, soon, employees."

Look for new avenues to bring in revenue and clients

During her 10th season with the Kansas City Royals, Dulan decided to make her protein ball recipe that had gone viral on Pinterest for the players. No matter how many dozens she rolled, the team gobbled up the protein-packed snack. Six weeks later, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series for the first time in 30 years, and Dulan and her balls were the talk of the town.

As requests for the protein balls poured in, Dulan saw a new opportunity and created Simply Fuel, her line of on-the-go snacks made with whole food ingredients. She said the company, started in 2015, is poised to turn a profit this year. Dulan hopes to use the success of this venture to serve as an angel investor for female-founded food companies.

Another way nutritionists can successfully reach and grow their audience and clientele is by writing a book. Based on her massive Pinterest following, Dulan published "The Pinterest Diet: Pin Your Way to Thin," and followed it up with "The All-Pro Diet: Lose Fat, Build Muscle, and Live Like a Champion."

"Even if you don't know what to say, start something, self-publish," Garcia suggested. "I knew enough by the time I wrote my first book, 'The Balance,' which was published by Judith Regan and Harper Collins, that it turned out to be a bestseller, and I never in a million years would've believed it, but that really cemented my career."

NOW READ: 15 entrepreneurs share the personal rules they set to make sure their work doesn't take over their lives

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

↧

I took 3 Delta flights in one day after finally getting elite status to see if it's really worth having — here's what I discovered

February 13, 2020, 8:23 am

≫ Next: Students in LeBron James' school program were surprised with 4 years of free college tuition at Kent State University

≪ Previous: How to earn a 6-figure salary as a dietitian or nutritionist, according to 4 renowned entrepreneurs in the industry

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717

Elite status is the endgame for most frequent flyers as it offers high-end perks such as free first-class upgrades.
I recently attained elite status on Delta Air Lines in the lowest level of its program and took a trip to see if I'd get upgraded despite my low seniority.
To my surprise, I was upgraded on every flight and over $800 of value was added to my trip because I had the status.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When most travelers shop for flights, factors such as price and schedule are usually the key determiners as to which one will be selected. For frequent travelers, however, the process involves more loyalty thanks to frequent flyer programs.

Each airline has its own loyalty program that keeps its most valued customers coming back for a few reasons, but normally chief among them is the desire for elite status and all the benefits that accompany it.

Rising to the top of any loyalty program has its perks in the form of freebies and special treatment, which is no different for airlines. As opposed to getting a free coffee at Starbucks, however, airlines can offer greater incentives such as first-class upgrades, lounge access, and other perks that make traveling easier, more enjoyable and luxurious.

Even at the lowest levels of an airline's elite status hierarchy, a frequent flyer can book the cheapest economy seat and still be sitting in first class without paying a penny more.

I recently attained elite status on Delta Air Lines on the lowest rung of its frequent flyer program for the entirety of 2020. As a SkyMiles Silver Medallion member, I would be entitled to all the trimmings of elite status including upgrades and priority access at airports, according to Delta.

But given my low seniority, I wanted to see just how many benefits I'd be able to take advantage of on a given trip, so I booked one specifically to find out.

Here's how having elite status changed my travel experience.

Back in November, I received an email from Delta informing me that my excessive travels had paid off and I achieved Silver Medallion elite status in its SkyMiles program.

As this was the first time I'd achieved elite status on any airline, let alone one of the world's largest, I was very excited to give it a go. The list of perks included upgrades, free checked bags, and priority check-in.

The chief among those perks is the first-class upgrade as it's often the most valued and elevates the in-flight experience to a new level.

With Delta, however, all elite status holders can request an upgrade on any domestic flight, regardless of length. As a Silver Medallion, I'd be the last in the pecking order and the least likely to be upgraded, I thought.

On most Delta flights, there are two possibilities for upgrades. One into first-class….

And the other to Delta Comfort+, an enhanced economy product offering extra legroom, premium snacks, and complimentary alcoholic beverages.

I wanted to know just how much easier having the status made flying and whether or not I'd get upgraded, I booked a trip to find out, flying from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina and onward to Orlando, Florida before heading back to New York for $157.

The flights were a mix of leisure and business routes on medium to small size aircraft, so I'd have a good sample size for my experiment.

The first flight of the trip was from New York to Raleigh, a route flown primarily by business customers, a group that tends to have elite status.

The flight was operated by a Delta Boeing 717 aircraft, which features a 12-seat first-class cabin and a 20-seat Comfort+ cabin.

A few days before departure, both the first class and Comfort+ cabin were showing as having open seats, meaning it would be likely I'd at least get upgraded into Comfort+.

The day before my trip, the going rate for an upgrade Comfort+ on the flight was $9.68...

And for first class, it was $474.

Fast forward to the day before departure, I checked in for the flight 24 hours on the dot in advance and was notified shortly after that I'd been upgraded to Comfort+. My $157 ticket was now giving me a value of $166.68 and I was number one on the first-class upgrade list.

When I arrived at the airport the next day, I was still number one on the first-class upgrade list with one seat open. Delta's revenue team was working against me here, hoping that it would sell the upgrade.

Despite having elite status with Delta, I wasn't able to access any of the airline's check-in areas dedicated to elites as I was too low in the status hierarchy. Keep in mind, to even get Silver Medallion status, flyers must spend $3,000 and fly 25,000 miles or 30 flights on Delta or some partner airlines.

The same was true at security where Delta's priority lane was only available to those in the highest tiers of elite SkyMiles status.

I wasn't too phased by either, however, as I had checked in on my phone already and could use my TSA Precheck to get through security without having to wait too long.

If I had been checking bags, though, I would've have had to wait in the regular line.

Although my upgrade hadn't cleared by the time I got to the gate, all hope wasn't lost as there was a possibility Delta was waiting until the last possible second to upgrade me in a last-ditch attempt to sell the upgrade. I was still number one on the list.

I still had my Comfort+ seat so I couldn't complain, especially on an hour-long flight. As I waited to hear the gate agent call my name and tell me that my upgrade had cleared, I looked up to see that all first-class seats were full.

But when I boarded, I was given a surprise by Delta in the form of a new boarding pass with my new seat, 1D. Despite being the lowest of the low, I'd managed to get an upgrade on what is normally an elite-heavy route for Delta on one of its smallest planes.

And even got a window seat!

The value of my $157 ticket was now $631 with two more flights to go.

The next flight on my itinerary was another quick hop from Raleigh to Orlando.

This time on a Delta Air Lines Airbus A320 with a 16-seat first-class and 18-seat Comfort+ cabin.

Though a non-standard route for Delta, the airline has been growing in Raleigh and even operates a transatlantic flight to Paris from the North Carolina city.

When the upgrade list was revealed 24 hours before the flight, I was near-dead last in the list for first class. It wasn't looking good for this one.

I was, however, almost immediately upgraded to Comfort+ and given a window seat, a $34 value based on Delta's upgrade price. The new value of my ticket with the upgrade was now $665.

The highlights of Comfort+ are the extra legroom...

Complimentary alcoholic drinks,...

And premium snack offerings on longer flights.

But Comfort+ is really a consolation prize for elites since an upgrade is nearly guaranteed.

After landing in Orlando, it was time for the final and longest flight of the day, Orlando to New York on a Delta Airbus A321.

As one of the largest narrow-body aircraft in Delta's fleet, the A321 would feature a first-class cabin with 20 large recliner seats.

The longer flight would also mean more time to enjoy the service so I was hoping I'd get an upgrade on this one.

The day prior, the upgrade list was showing 12 open seats and I was number one on the list so I was hopeful.

Delta was only selling the upgrades for $159, however, so it easily could've filled up. A single upgrade cost more than the price of my day trip.

Much to my surprise, I was upgraded straight into first-class just after I checked in for the flight! Delta must have known it wouldn't sell the upgrades.

I even managed to get a window seat.

The upgrade wasn't too surprising since I was flying against the grain on a leisure route, but it was a nice treat, nonetheless, and I was surprised at how quickly I was upgraded.

The value of my ticket was now $824, more than five times greater than what I originally paid.

The flight was late at night so no meal service would be offered, but a snack and beverage service offered sustenance and the large seat allowed me to get some well-needed rest, especially with the pillow and blanket provided at each seat.

I landed back in New York having been upgraded on all three of my flights, with two of them in a first-class cabin.

After only spending $157 for an economy ticket, not only did I spend only one flight in (premium) economy but was given an additional $824 value on my ticket through the upgrades to Comfort+ and first class based on Delta's upgrade prices.

The flights showed me that even in Delta's egalitarian system where all elites can request upgrades on any domestic flight, I still had a shot at getting upgraded as a Silver Medallion, which is arguably the greatest perk of elite status.

I didn't notice a difference in the airport experience, though it didn't bother me as I primarily carry-on my bags and don't usually need to visit the counter. TSA Precheck also made any benefits at the security checkpoint pointless as the lane offers amenities that Delta can't, even with a priority line.

I know I may not be as lucky on future flights, but this was a great first trip as a Silver Medallion.

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Students in LeBron James' school program were surprised with 4 years of free college tuition at Kent State University

February 13, 2020, 8:33 am

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Los Angeles Lakers injured guard LeBron James cheers his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Nuggets won 128-104. James sat out the game because of a thoracic muscle strain. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

The LeBron James Family Foundation and Kent State University announced on Wednesday that the inaugural class of LeBron James' I Promise Network will receive free tuition to Kent State.
The 193 students were surprised with the gift — which includes free tuition for four years and one year of free room and board — during a visit to Kent State.
In order to receive the tuition, students have to be accepted into Kent State, fill out financial aid forms, and complete community service hours each semester.
They will have to work to hold on to the scholarship by remaining in good academic standing, continuing community service, and taking an undisclosed amount of credits every semester.
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Students from the inaugural class of LeBron James' I Promise Network in Akron, Ohio, won't have to worry about college costs — they've been granted four years of free tuition at the nearby Kent State University.

The LeBron James Family Foundation made the announcement in partnership with Kent State on Wednesday, saying that all 193 students from the I Promise's first graduating class are receiving the surprise gift.

The students are currently juniors in high school, and they were told of the free tuition on a visit to Kent State.

"You are Mr. LeBron James' first class, his first love, it all started because of you," Melody Tankersley, the university's interim senior vice president and provost, told students in a video posted to Twitter.

Tankersley said the students first became part of James' I Promise program when they were in third grade, according to a press release. In the years since, Tankersley said, the students have applied themselves to make their dream of college a reality.

The students learned about the tuition through surprise envelopes underneath their chairs, which said: "Kent State guarantees your tuition-free for four years! You will also receive free room and meal plan for your first year."

When you show up to @KentState for your 11th grade experience outing, but find out you’re also getting FREE tuition for 4 years AND a year of free room & board‼️ 😱😭pic.twitter.com/udCrl95qFi
— LeBron James Family Foundation (@LJFamFoundation) February 12, 2020

Kent State President Todd Diacon spoke to students about the free tuition as they cheered in a crowded auditorium.

"We are doing this because we know of the transformative power of a higher education and a college degree, but most of all we're doing this because you guys have demonstrated over the past several years that you have the grit, that you have the determination, that you have the dreams to succeed," Diacon said.

The students will be eligible for free tuition beginning as college freshmen in the 2021-22 academic year.

In order to receive the Kent State package, they must be successfully accepted into the university, fill out financial aid forms, and complete community service hours each semester. To stay eligible over the four years, students will have to remain in good academic standing, continue community service, and take an undisclosed required number of credits each semester.

Mr. LeBron’s first #IPROMISE class. His first love ❤️. Thank you @KentState for making dreams come true for our students and families. 🙏⚡️ #WeAreFamily pic.twitter.com/Kqye8DwK3q
— LeBron James Family Foundation (@LJFamFoundation) February 12, 2020

Michele Campbell, executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, said in a press release that Kent State is providing an opportunity that will help the students "be successful not only in school but in life."

James, an Akron native, opened the I Promise School in 2018 with a goal of helping kids who were at risk of falling behind. His LeBron James Family Foundation was a top donor to the public school, which first opened its doors to elementary-age students with plans to expand to let in children in third grade through eighth grade.

James' I Promise Network helps to mentor students across Akron with college and career prep.

In 2015, he partnered with The University of Akron to guarantee scholarships for all eligible students who finished the program.

"I know the streets they walk; I know the trials and tribulations that they go through," he said at the time, describing his childhood in Akron. "I know the ups, the downs; I know everything that they dream about. I know all the nightmares that they have, because I've been there."